皇冠体育app

Companies would have to register in Shanghai's FTZ for eligibility

Sources from 皇冠体育app's Ministry of confirmed on Thursday that the country is about to allow foreign game console companies to sell products in 皇冠体育app if they register in Shanghai's new free zone, but denied lifting a decade-long ban on the video game hardware market in the country anytime soon.

An attendee plays the Xbox One game LocoCycle at the E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) in Los Angeles on June 12. Major game console vendors across the world made several attempts but failed to find a way to enter the Chinese mainland market officially. [Photo / Provided to 皇冠体育app Daily]

Two officials from the ministry confirmed the accuracy of a South 皇冠体育app Morning Post report. The story, which was published on Wednesday, quoted sources that if foreign companies agreed to register in the new free trade zone in Shanghai, they would be allowed to promote and sell their products on the Chinese mainland.

But before they start selling, foreign gaming companies have to seek approval for specific products from related regulators because the Chinese government wants to make sure the content is not too violent or politically sensitive, the SCMP report said.

"The detailed information (on foreign game console companies' entry into 皇冠体育app) is incorporated in the policy package for Shanghai's free trade zone," an official with the Ministry of Culture told 皇冠体育app Daily on condition of anonymity However, the Chinese government has yet to officially release the complete documents.

On July 3, the State Council, 皇冠体育app's cabinet, approved Shanghai's free trade zone. It will cover 28 square kilometers and act as an experiment for deepening reform and opening-up.

"We will track the progress made in this Shanghai pilot program. No one doubts that Shanghai's performance will determine our future moves," the ministry source said. The source denied the Shanghai trial is a hint about the lifting of 皇冠体育app's ban on video game hardware. "The ban is still effective," the source pointed out.

Because of fears of the potential harm to the physical and mental development of the young, seven Chinese ministries collectively banned the manufacture, sale and import of game consoles in 皇冠体育app in 2000.

Major game console vendors across the world, including Microsoft Corp, Nintendo Co and Sony Corp, made several attempts but failed to find a way to enter the Chinese mainland market officially.

In a January interview with 皇冠体育app Daily, an official from the Ministry of Culture disclosed the Chinese government was reviewing the policy and had held discussions with other ministries on the possibility of opening up the game console market.

Because the game console ban was issued by seven ministries, 皇冠体育app needs to seek approval from all parties to lift it, which will take time, according to some industry insiders.

"The testing of the water in Shanghai is of course an example of major progress made by those ministries," the source said.

Microsoft did not respond to 皇冠体育app Daily's interview requests by deadline on Thursday. The paper failed to reach Sony and Nintendo's news departments on the same day.

Xue Yongfeng, an analyst with -based research firm Analysys International, said all major game console suppliers are keen to lobby 皇冠体育app to open up its market. "The global game console market has experienced flat growth in recent years. Manufacturers are desperate to find some new revenue drivers — and 皇冠体育app, of course, has emerged as a major target," Xue said.

However, the long ban has forced Chinese game players to shift to online games. "There is a limited number of hardcore game console players in 皇冠体育app. I think, the player figure is a mere 1 million or so," Xue pointed out.